Fractal Design Pop 2 Air Debuts With Sleek Styling And A GPU Air Guide To Battle Temps

Fractal Design Pop 2 Air Debuts With Sleek Styling And A GPU Air Guide To Battle Temps
It’s not controversial that Fractal Design makes some of the nicest looking PC cases on the market (as well as other gear, like the Scape headset we reviewed). From what we can tell based on press imagery, Fractal Design’s new Pop 2 Air case lineup is no exception. Underneath the sleek styling, however, the focus is on copious airflow, particular

AI Mode in Google search can now pull context from your other apps

After adding Personal Intelligence to Gemini as an opt-in experience, Google has announced that it’s also integrating the feature into AI Mode in Search. What Personal Intelligence does is pull information from your Google apps to tailor its responses based on your history and interests. For Search, in particular, you can allow Personal Intelligence to look for information in your Gmail accounts and Google Photos libraries.

If you use AI Mode to shop for clothes with the new feature enabled, for instance, Google could recommend items or models from a brand you previously purchased from. If it sees plane tickets or other reservations in Gmail, Google could also recommend specific items based on your destination and the season if you’re clothes shopping for that trip.

Personal Intelligence is powered by Google’s Gemini 3 AI model. The company says it doesn’t train its models using information from your Gmail inbox or Google Photos library, but it does use your prompts and AI Mode’s responses. Google also warned that sometimes, the feature’s recommendations could feel inaccurate because it could not fully comprehend the context or could make incorrect connections between separate topics.

At the moment, Personal Intelligence is an experimental feature that’s rolling out in Labs starting today. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US, who use the service in English, will automatically have access to it and be able to connect AI Mode to Gmail and Google Photos. It will only be available to personal Google accounts, however, and not for Workspace accounts just yet.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-mode-in-google-search-can-now-pull-context-from-your-other-apps-160000103.html?src=rss

eBay bans illicit automated shopping amid rapid rise of AI agents

On Tuesday, eBay updated its User Agreement to explicitly ban third-party “buy for me” agents and AI chatbots from interacting with its platform without permission, first spotted by Value Added Resource. On its face, a one-line terms of service update doesn’t seem like major news, but what it implies is more significant: The change reflects the rapid emergence of what some are calling “agentic commerce,” a new category of AI tools designed to browse, compare, and purchase products on behalf of users.

eBay’s updated terms, which go into effect on February 20, 2026, specifically prohibit users from employing “buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow that attempts to place orders without human review” to access eBay’s services without the site’s permission. The previous version of the agreement contained a general prohibition on robots, spiders, scrapers, and automated data gathering tools but did not mention AI agents or LLMs by name.

At first glance, the phrase “agentic commerce” may sound like aspirational marketing jargon, but the tools are already here, and people are apparently using them. While fitting loosely under one label, these tools come in many forms.

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Canon EOS R6 III review: A video powerhouse that’s also great for photography

With video features like RAW now the norm on midrange mirrorless cameras, Canon decided not to mess around with its latest model, the 33-megapixel EOS R6 III. It’s a veritable cinematic beast, allowing up to 7K RAW video capture internally with fast and reliable autofocus and rock solid stabilization. 

At the same time, it’s a solid photo camera with high burst speeds and warm, accurate image quality. The R6 III has stiff competition with Sony’s 33MP A7 V, though, as the latter delivers higher dynamic range. The price could also be an issue for buyers, as the R6 III costs $300 more than its predecessor. Whether it’s worth that extra money depends on what you’re planning to do with it.  

Handling and design

Canon EOS R6 III
Canon EOS R6 III
Steve Dent for Engadget

The EOS R6 III is quintessentially Canon in terms of design. It strongly resembles the R6 II and EOS R5 II, with the same button and dial layout at the rear. In terms of functionality, this is a good thing as everything falls perfectly to hand, letting you control it by feel once you’re used to it. However, the R6 III’s design is a bit bland, so if you’re looking for a stylish camera a la Fujifilm, this is not the one. 

Holding the R6 III is also a pleasure thanks to the grippy, soft rubber exterior, though at 1.5 pounds it’s a bit heavier than the A7 V. It’s comfortable to hold and use all day, unlike Sony’s A7 V which felt uncomfortable after prolonged usage because of the harder material and sharp crease around the fingertip area. 

The R6 III’s 3.69-million dot, 120 fps electronic viewfinder (EVF) worked fine for me to check color and focus, but falls short of the one on the much cheaper Nikon Z6 III. The flip-out 3-inch 1.65-million-dot rear touch display is on par for this category and does the job well. For storage, the R6 III supports CFexpress Type B cards for capturing RAW video, along with SD UHS II for MP4 video and photos. 

Other key features include headphone and microphone ports, a full-sized HDMI input (instead of microHDMI as before, thankfully) and a USB-C port for charging and transfers. Battery life is decent for this category with a maximum 510 shots per charge or 620 shots if you engage the power saving mode or about 90 minutes of continuous 4K capture. However, you can roughly double those figures with Canon’s optional $150 BG-R20 battery grip.

Performance

Canon's EOS R6 III offers fast burst speeds and skin-tone friendly colors
Canon’s EOS R6 III offers fast burst speeds and skin-tone friendly colors
Steve Dent for Engadget

The R6 III offers a boost in shooting speeds over its predecessor thanks to an all-new 33MP sensor. It has a faster readout speed than the R6 II as well, allowing for faster bursts and lower rolling shutter skew. In comparison, Sony’s A7 V also has a 33MP sensor but it’s partially stacked, so it delivers less distortion when shooting fast-moving subjects. 

With that new sensor and a 34 percent faster Digic X processor, the R6 III can shoot bursts at up to 40 fps in electronic and 12 fps in mechanical shutter modes (with continuous AF and AE enabled). That’s second only to the Panasonic S1 II (70 fps) in this price range. You can fill the buffer in about 3.7 seconds at that speed (150 RAW frames), which is a decent amount for a midrange camera.

You usually want to avoid the electronic shutter with fast-moving action due to rolling shutter distortion, but the R6 III’s faster sensor can handle objects that are moving reasonably quickly. I also caught a few photos of babies, bikes and dogs I might have otherwise missed by using the new pre-capture mode that records up to 15 photos before fully declencing the shutter.

The new sensor and processor also make the R6 III’s autofocus system faster and more accurate than before. When shooting bursts for fast moving action like dogs running or biking, less than five percent of my shots were out of focus. And the EOS R6 III can now track animals, birds and vehicles, on top of the faces, eyes and bodies of people. 

This camera also has a couple of new autofocus tricks, including one called Register People Priority. That lets you save up to 10 individuals on camera that it can identify and automatically switch to. I found it handy in a large gathering, helping me focus on my niece enjoying her second Christmas. However, the R6 III lacks a few autofocus features found on the R5 II like “action priority” for sports, eye control AF and AI upscaling. 

In-body stabilization is also excellent, keeping the sensor rock-steady for handheld shooting with 8.5 stops of shake reduction. With that enabled, I was able to nicely blur action on the streets while keeping the background sharply in focus at shutter speeds down to a full second. 

Image quality

With a 33MP sensor instead of a 24MP sensor, the R6 III offers quite a bit more sharpness and a touch more dynamic range than its predecessor. When shooting RAW, I was able to coax a lot of detail out of high contrast shots on sunny days with dark shadows. However, Sony’s A7 V soundly beats the R6 III in terms of dynamic range, thanks to its innovative new sensor. 

The R6 III’s high ISO performance isn’t too bad for a higher-resolution camera either, with noise staying under control up to ISO 12,800. As is typical with Canon models, skin tones are warmer and more flattering than on Sony and Nikon cameras, due to the slightly more yellow-biased pink tones. Those pleasing colors were consistent, even at high ISOs, when I shot kids and adults at a couple of indoor gatherings. If you don’t want the hassle of RAW, JPEG rendering is excellent straight out of the camera, with well balanced sharpening and noise reduction.

Note that switching to electronic shutter mode drops the sensor to a 12-bit readout, which helps burst speeds but hurts image quality. This is a pretty big downside compared to the A7 V, which maintains 14-bit quality even when shooting at the camera’s maximum rate at 30 fps. So while on paper the R6 III wins the speed race, the 10 extra fps won’t be worth the drop in quality for many photographers. 

Video

Canon’s EOS R6 III
Canon’s EOS R6 III
Steve Dent for Engadget

Canon has improved video on the R6 III in every way, putting it nearly on par with the more expensive R5 II. Though it can’t shoot 8K, it can handle 7K RAW video at up to 60 fps (on CFexpress only) and 4K at 120p, with less rolling shutter than the R6 II. It also supports 3:2 “open gate” video that uses the full sensor area so you can output high-res vertical video and other formats.

The R6 III supports 4K 10-bit MP4 shooting at high data rates too if you’d rather save storage space or shoot on SD cards. You also get CLog 2 on top of CLog 3 capability for improved dynamic range. Oddly though, Canon made it a bit of a pain to switch to log modes compared to past models, forcing you to slog through a bunch of menus to do so. 

Video autofocus is excellent across all resolutions, with rapid subject acquisition and reliable tracking. Face and eye detection work very well, and I only occasionally noticed slight autofocus lag with fast-moving subjects, particularly when they were moving toward the camera. 

As for stabilization, I could smoothly shoot handheld with no crop, provided I didn’t move the camera too aggressively. Digital stabilization allowed even more movement and the enhanced setting let me shoot smoothly while walking (7K doesn’t work in the digital stabilization modes, though). Panasonic’s S5 II is still the best in this regard with slightly smoother stabilization, but the R6 III isn’t far behind.

Video on the EOS R6 III is extremely sharp in RAW and the HQ modes, particularly with supersampled 4K HQ. Other 4K modes are subsampled, but nearly as sharp. Rolling shutter is better managed than before, but you’ll still want to avoid things like whip pans, sudden jolts or rapid subjects like propellers or golf swings. 

In a variety of shooting scenarios in bright and dark conditions, Canon’s excellent color science delivered warm skin tones and accurate colors. Shooting RAW video allowed me to widely adjust shots in post, while the CLog 2 mode drastically improved dynamic range while I was shooting in contrasty conditions. For instance, I shot the famous Paris department store windows and was able to extract detail from the very bright and dark parts of the video.

Overheating has been an issue in the past on Canon’s R6 models, but the R6 III never shut down for me, even during a few tests of over 15 minutes. Overall, it reliably delivered outstanding video quality and I actually preferred it to the R5 II due to the smaller RAW file sizes. 

Wrap-up

Canon EOS R6 III mirrorless camera
Canon EOS R6 III mirrorless camera
Steve Dent for Engadget

Canon’s EOS R6 III is now the best midrange camera for creators thanks to the RAW video, rapid and accurate autofocus and excellent handling. At the same time, it’s a solid camera for photography with high burst speeds, extra resolution and, again, reliable AF. If it’s mainly photography you’re interested in, though, Sony’s $2,900 A7 V is a better choice. It matches the R6 III’s resolution, price and autofocus but offers superior dynamic range and lower rolling shutter distortion.

Other video-centric options may be more attractive for other reasons — including budget. Nikon’s 24MP Z6 III offers similar capabilities, has a partially stacked sensor and retails for $2,400, but can often be found on sale for less. Panasonic’s S1 II is also a good pick due to its RAW video and creator-centric features, though it costs more at $3,200. 

Which one to buy, then, depends on your budget, usage (video or photography) and whether you already have lenses in one system or another. With that said, if it’s a Canon camera you’re after and you lean toward content creation, the EOS R6 III is your best choice. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/canon-eos-r6-iii-review-a-video-powerhouse-thats-also-great-for-photography-153000494.html?src=rss

‘Stealing Isn’t Innovation’: Hundreds of Creatives Warn Against an AI Slop Future

Around 800 artists, writers, actors, and musicians signed on to a new campaign against what they call “theft at a grand scale” by AI companies. From a report: The signatories of the campaign — called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” — include authors George Saunders and Jodi Picoult, actors Cate Blanchett and Scarlett Johansson, and musicians like the band R.E.M., Billy Corgan, and The Roots.

“Driven by fierce competition for leadership in the new GenAI technology, profit-hungry technology companies, including those among the richest in the world as well as private equity-backed ventures, have copied a massive amount of creative content online without authorization or payment to those who created it,” a press release reads. “This illegal intellectual property grab fosters an information ecosystem dominated by misinformation, deepfakes, and a vapid artificial avalanche of low-quality materials [‘AI slop’], risking AI model collapse and directly threatening America’s AI superiority and international competitiveness.”


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Spotted: Unibet Rose Rockets teases new Rose aero bike and rebranded Ridley Dean Fast Disc TT bike

It’s been nearly four years since Rose updated the Xlite, and this unreleased road bike looks like the next iteration of the brand’s aero offering.

While not yet confirmed by Rose, the bike can be seen on Unibet Rose Rockets’ Instagram page, with the team racing it this year.

The new bike shares some similarities with the current model, while we can’t help but see a bit of the Specialized Venge in the seatstays.

Unreleased Rose Xlite fork
Unibet Rose Rockets has one of the more interesting colourways in the peloton. Unibet Rose Rockets

Notable changes to the bike appear to be an elongated fork, different aeroforming around the rear seatstays and exposed hardware for the rear axle.

The previous version of the Xlite saw the hardware covered up, possibly for aero gains, but it appears Rose has dropped this idea, at least on the rear of the bike, with the fork remaining covered.

Unreleased Rose Xlite with Vittoria tyres
Vittoria is the tyre sponsor. Unibet Rose Rockets

Tyre clearance on the fork appears to be the same as the previous model, with the bike pictured with 30mm Vittoria Corsa tyres. However, the profile of the fork has grown, potentially reducing drag.

Unreleased Rose Xlite seatpost
Selle Italia’s SLR 3D Carbon saddle is used by the team. Unibet Rose Rockets

Unibet Rose Rockets’ bike features a SRAM Red AXS groupset, Vision Metron wheels and a Selle Italia SLR 3D Carbon saddle.

We’re not sure when to expect an official announcement about the bike, but with Rose finally back in the UK, it could be an interesting option for those looking for their next aero road bike.

Rose Rebranded Ridley Dean Fast Disc TT
This partnership appears to have saved Rose from having to develop a time-trial bike. Unibet Rose Rockets

In an Instagram post, the team has also announced it is riding a Rose-branded Ridley Dean Fast Disc, which it says has been licensed through a technical partnership with Rose Bikes for 2026.

It goes on to say: “This collaboration ensures the team’s riders are equipped with the fastest possible TT setup, built on a long-standing relationship and shared commitment to top-level performance.”

Dell Launches Rugged, AI‑Ready Education PCs Built To Survive The School Day

Dell Launches Rugged, AI‑Ready Education PCs Built To Survive The School Day
In an era where digital literacy is no longer elective, Dell has unveiled a massive expansion to its education portfolio, designed to survive both the rigors of the playground and the demands of the modern AI-integrated classroom. Part of this expansion includes new Dell Pro Education and Chromebook 14 laptops that boast easy battery replacement

Ayaneo Pocket S Mini Brings Authentic 4:3 Display And CNC Metal To Retro Gamers

Ayaneo Pocket S Mini Brings Authentic 4:3 Display And CNC Metal To Retro Gamers
Ayaneo is sharing a few more details about its Pocket S Mini gaming handheld that it unveiled in September of last year. We now know that it will feature a premium full CNC metal frame instead of a plastic housing, and a display with a “graduation-level” 4:3 aspect ratio that is reminiscent of gaming on old school CRT televisions. We also

The Switch 2 version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder arrives on March 26

While many of us wait (im)patiently for a brand new Mario platformer for the Switch 2, Nintendo is filling the gap with an upgraded version of the tremendous Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the console. Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (to give the new edition’s full name) will arrive on March 26. Those who own the original Switch version of the game will be able to buy an upgrade pack, which costs $20. 

There’s a lot of new stuff in the Switch 2 version, including co-op and multiplayer features. Bellabel Park, a fresh area of the Flower Kingdom, will open up. You can jump into some multiplayer modes here, such as one where you compete to collect as many coins as possible. 

A section that’s all about local multiplayer has 17 co-op and versus modes. You can either play those on the same console or use GameShare so that up to three other people in the same physical place as you can join in on their own Switch or Switch 2. The Game Room Plaza, meanwhile, supports local and online play for six minigames — each player will need their own system for those. Up to eight people can play using the local wireless feature, and up to 12 via online multiplayer.

Along with those multiplayer minigame areas, Bellabel Park is home to Toad Brigade Training Camp. Here, you can take on challenges based on levels from the main game. You can tackle these on your own or recruit up to three friends to help (you’ll only need one Switch 2 for this). 

There are new things to check out in the main game as well. You can take on boss courses that feature all seven Koopalings and (finally!) play as Rosalina.

Nintendo is adding an option in which a second player can control a Luma. They can help out the main player by defeating enemies and collecting coins. You can play as the Luma by using the Switch 2 mouse control feature. That’s a great idea, as it could allow, say, a parent or guardian who is not too familiar with a game controller to assist a kid who needs some extra help to get through Super Mario Bros. Wonder

In addition, there’s an assist mode. When this is enabled, you can quickly recover from falling into a pit (with a propeller flower bringing you back into the action) and avoid taking any damage. 

That’s not all, folks. Also on March 26, you can snag three new amiibo from the game: Elephant Mario (which I’m going to have to buy), Poplin & Prince Florian and Captain Toad & Talking Flower. 

A couple of weeks earlier, on March 12, Nintendo will start selling a physical version of the Talking Flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The battery-powered device will talk to you a couple of times per hour, mentioning things like the room temperature and time. It can play music as well. There’s a button you can press to hear it talk (or hold to make it shut up). There’s support for 11 languages and it can chatter at set times, making it a bit similar to Nintendo’s Alarmo. You’ll be able to buy Talking Flower from Nintendo’s New York and San Francisco stores, its online store and some other retailers, with pre-orders opening today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-switch-2-version-of-super-mario-bros-wonder-arrives-on-march-26-150916983.html?src=rss

Real VR Fishing Sold One Million Copies So Far

Devs United Games said Real VR Fishing sold one million copies across all platforms since its launch in September 2019.

Devs United Games CEO Mark Choi took to X to announce that Real VR Fishing reached one million sales across all platforms. Available on Quest, Steam, Pico, and Galaxy XR, the title sees regular post-launch support, including new events, features, and DLC.

Choi mentioned that a new mastery-based system called Fly Fishing is on the way as well as an expanded campaign with other features requested by the community to add more depth. New leagues and tournaments to increase the game’s longevity are also planned.

Drip-feeding content since release, developers added new maps recreating parts of Mexico, Japan, the United States and Europe. Most recently, the title made its way to Samsung Galaxy XR with hand tracking support late last year, fully supporting cross-play in the latest version of the game. On Apple Vision Pro, the developers explored hand tracking technology on the device with Fishing Haven, but it lacked most of the features of Real VR Fishing that make the game such a standout.

We’ll be looking to test out updates to Real VR Fishing in the year ahead and to see what else Devs United Games has in store. Real VR Fishing is out now for Quest, Steam, Pico, and Galaxy XR.

Atherton’s first eMTB uses the most important motor on the market – and it’s cheaper than its competitors

Atherton Bikes has finally released its first eMTB, combining the DJI Avinox motor everyone is talking about with its S.170 enduro bike – and the price is competitive.

The S.170E uses the 120Nm, 1,000W DJI Avinox motor and a ‘full size’ battery, although the precise capacity is as-yet unspecified.

Like the non-assisted S.170, the Atherton S.170E uses the same DW4 suspension and geometry, along with its mixed wheel-size setup and aluminum frame construction.

What we know about the new electric-assisted Atherton

The DJI Avinox motor is combined with a DW4 suspension system and aluminium frame. Atherton Bikes

This is the first electric mountain bike created by Atherton Bikes, and details are scarce, but we expect the frame will be similar to the non-assisted S.170 enduro bike.

The S.170, in turn, is based around the more expensive and boutique carbon and titanium-lugged AM.170, so expect similar geometry. The only numbers confirmed so far are a 64° head angle and 77° seat angle.

The highest-spec version includes Fox Factory suspension and a SRAM X0 Eagle drivetrain. Atherton Bikes

There are three build specifications available.

For £6,999, you get ‘Build 3’, with RockShox Select suspension – a Zeb fork and Vivid air shock, with SRAM Eagle 90 mechanical transmission.

Build 2 costs £7,999 with RockShox Ultimate suspension and SRAM GX Eagle electronic shifting, which Atherton Bikes says, intriguingly, is “integrated with the Avinox drive system”.

Build 1 costs £8,999 for a Fox Factory 38 fork and X2 shock, with SRAM X0 Eagle transmission and a carbon handlebar.

The frame and geometry are based on the existing S.170 enduro bike. Atherton Bikes

These competitive prices, in combination with a well-respected brand name and a proven suspension design, could make the first Atherton eMTB an attractive proposition.

DJI’s Avinox motor has quickly gained popularity thanks to its performance and monster power, even prompting some riders to question how much power is too much. This motor sets the benchmark for eMTB power and is one reason the new bike will be on many riders’ wishlists.

Sizing and availability

With 14 sizes on offer, it’s possible to choose precisely the reach you want based on your height and preferences. Atherton Bikes

With 14 sizes on offer, the S.170E is not custom, but it’s certainly more tailored than other bikes in this price bracket.

The S.170E will be available from April 2026 for UK and EU customers; the first 50 units will be available for a £1,000 deposit. Worldwide distribution is in the pipeline.

Zotac Unveils Magnus Mini PC With AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 And 128GB Of RAM

Zotac Unveils Magnus Mini PC With AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 And 128GB Of RAM
Zotac is taking its Magnus Zbox mini PC lineup to the Max. As in, AMD’s Ryzen AI Max and Max+ processors based on Strix Halo, which in and of itself makes these new compact systems notable. Depending on the model, however, you’re also getting gobs of RAM to go along with a potent processor. The top SKU comes equipped with a whopping 128GB

All sorts of interesting flags and artifacts will fly to the Moon on Artemis II

NASA’s first astronauts to fly to the Moon in more than 50 years will pay tribute to the lunar and space exploration missions that preceded them, as well as aviation and American history, by taking with them artifacts and mementos representing those past accomplishments.

NASA on Wednesday (Jan. 21) revealed the contents of the Artemis II mission’s Official Flight Kit (OFK), continuing a tradition dating back to the Apollo program of packing a duffel bag-size pouch of symbolic and celebratory items to commemorate the flight and recognize the people behind it. The kit includes more than 2,300 items, including a handful of relics.

“This mission will bring together pieces of our earliest achievements in aviation, defining moments from human spaceflight and symbols of where we’re headed next,” Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, said in a statement. “Historical artifacts flying aboard Artemis II reflect the long arc of American exploration and the generations of innovators who made this moment possible.”

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